Mugabe bans 'Pasi Negamatox', 'Pasi Ne Zvipfukuto' slogans

The Zanu-PF Politburo meeting held in the capital on Thursday ended late evening with the adoption of a resolution to set up a commission of inquiry into the plague of factionalism which has been rocking the party in the last few years.

Among many issues, the Politburo also discussed the issue of the chanting of some slogans such as 'Pasi Negamatox' and 'Pasi Ne Zvipfukuto' which were ruled to be out of the party's statutes.

These slogans have been banned immediately.

A war of words has erupted between youths loyal to Mujuru and Mutasa and those opposed to the duo who were provocatively chanting the controversial and politically loaded Pasi neGamatox  (Down with Gamatox) slogan. Mujuru and Mutasa's supporters usually fighting back, chanting the equally insulting Pasi nezvipfukuto (Down with Weevils) slogan.

During one of Grace Mugabe's rallies, famed Harare businessman Philip Chiyangwa rowed with suspended Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa  over the 'Gamatox' issue.

Chiyangwa allegedly blurted, "Pasi neGamatox," infuriating Mliswa who had no time to waste as he responded saying, "Phidza wakufarisa, ndiani akakupinza musangano?" Mliswa, finger pointed at Chiyangwa and reminded him,  "Today you call Mutasa Gamatox? We will meet in central committee."

Dydimus Mutasa is Temba Mliswa's uncle and also Zanu-PF's administration secretary, sometime this year urged party youths in Mutare to use gamatox (a pesticide that is lethal to humans) against the alleged 'weevils' in their party. Mutasa assumed the nickname ' Cde Gamatox' after Mugabe used the funeral of former Cabinet minister and Zanu-PF politburo member Nathan Shamurarira to launch a withering attack against Moyo, describing him as the "devil incarnate" and a "weevil" destroying the party from within.

Mutasa then told party youths in Mutare that Moyo had to be expelled to end factionalism. "You were talking about the issue of weevils here. Way back we used to treat weevils by spraying gamatox (pesticide) and they would all die," Mutasa said.

In the joke which has become popular with social media users, two teams named Chipfukuto - Weevils (the Emmerson Mnangagwa) faction clashes  with the Gamatox team (Joice Mujuru faction) in the battle for honours at the December Congress in Harare.

The match is scheduled for December 5 and the referee is Mugabe himself assisted by war veterans Jabulani Sibanda and Joseph Chinotimba.

In the popular joke, the teams are lining up as follows:

TEAM GAMATOX

1. Joice Mujuru
2. Simon Khaya-Moyo
3. Didymus Mutasa
4. Sydney Sekeramayi
5. Dzikamai Mavhaire
6. Webster Shamu
7. Nicholas Goche
8. Ray Kaukonde
9. Amos Midzi
10. Francis Nhema
11. Temba Mliswa


TEAM ZVIPFUKUTO

1. Grace Mugabe
2. Emmerson  Mnangagwa
3. Oppah Muchinguri
4. Obert Mpofu
5. Ignatius Chombo
6. Saviour Kasukuwere
7. Patrick Chinamasa
8. Josiah Hungwe
9. Jonathan Moyo
10. Phillip Chiyangwa
11. Patrick Zhuwawo